Shipping Car to Bahrain

Shipping Your Car to Bahrain? Car Shipping from the USA to Bahrain starts at a cost of $1,695 USD with an estimated turnaround time of 4-6 weeks, depending on the make and model of the car, the port of origin, and the method of shipment. Below, we explore everything you need to know about shipping your car from the USA to Bahrain in our 2025 guide.

Shipping a Car to Bahrain: Checklist

Vehicle Import Options

Shipping a Car to Bahrain: Costs & Time Frame

Shipping a Car to Bahrain: Options

Additional Services

Ports Served in the US and Bahrain

Cleaning Your Vehicle of Biosecurity Concerns

Plating Your Vehicle in Bahrain

Other Bahrain/US Shipping Options

Shipping a car from the United States to Bahrain can be relatively easy if you carefully prepare and choose a reliable and trustworthy shipping company.

Here’s a rough breakdown of the process you’ll need to go through to ship your car overseas to Bahrain.

After you’ve determined that your vehicle is eligible for import to Bahrain, choose one of the best car shipping companies and select a suitable international car shipping service. You should then gather all of the necessary documentation, including:

Obtaining all of the necessary paperwork can take a while when shipping a car to Bahrain, so the process should be started well before you plan to ship your vehicle.

Before starting the international car shipping process, you should be sure that you understand all of the costs involved in Bahrain international car shipping, including:

Once the relevant paperwork is complete, you can select an international car shipping company and cost-effective international car shipping service to handle your car shipment from the United States to Bahrain.

Don’t forget to determine your vehicle’s departure and destination ports.

More information on the process of shipping a vehicle to Bahrain can be found here.

As you engage in the process of shipping your car from the USA to Bahrain, some of the most important questions to consider include:

• Do you plan to permanently keep your car in Bahrain or is this just a temporary move?
• Is your vehicle left-hand drive? Right-hand drive vehicles do not meet Bahraini import requirements and are not allowed for importation.
• How old is your vehicle?

These questions and more will determine whether your car is eligible for shipping to Bahrain and whether it meets Bahraini import regulations. Your actual tax rate is also based on these details.

When shipping a car to Bahrain, you should never assume that your international shipping scenario is the same as someone else’s.

When importing a car from the USA to Bahrain, there are several important considerations to keep in mind. You may be eligible to import your car into Bahrain on a temporary basis for a stay of up to 6 months without paying import taxes or duties, provided a Temporary Import Permit is obtained.

It’s also crucial to note that Bahrain has strict regulations concerning the age of imported vehicles, generally prohibiting cars older than 10 years. This regulation has recently been relaxed from the previous limit of 5 years. In certain circumstances, classic or vintage cars older than 10 years may be eligible for import into Bahrain with prior permission.

Notably, Bahrain adheres to Euro emissions standards. This means that imported vehicles must meet the Euro 4 or higher emissions standards to be compliant with Bahrain’s environmental regulations.

To obtain an estimate of the cost to ship a car to Bahrain, fill out our free quick quote form.

Vehicle Import Approval

When your car arrives in Bahrain, it must be declared to Bahraini Customs Authorities.

You’ll need the following documentation:

• Certificate of Ownership
• Commercial Invoice
• Original Bill of Lading
• Identification Card
• Import Permit/Approval
• Proof of Valid Insurance Coverage
• Customs Declaration Form

Things to Consider

To obtain an estimate of the cost to ship a car to Bahrain, fill out our free quick quote form.

Car Shipping from USA to Bahrain can be performed using a shared container, a sole container or a roll-on/roll-off service. It is important to find the best solution to meet your international car shipping needs.

Roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) – Vehicles are loaded onto a ship that contains a cargo area built like a very big parking garage. International RoRo shipping tends to be cheaper as, other than the shipping charge, you are required to pay only port charges and customs clearance charges.

Transits tend to be faster than with the shared container service, as the vessels depart on a weekly basis

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Shared Container Shipping – This method for car shipping to Bahrain requires multiple vehicles to be loaded into one shipping container. While there are more fees involved to ship a car from the USA to Bahrain with shared container service than with the roll-on/roll-off shipping method, due to the fact that the container must be processed, these charges are shared between the various clients who are using the container. Such fees include a trucking charge, terminal handling charge, customs clearance, and charge for unloading the vehicles at a bonded warehouse.

One disadvantage is that you might face a longer wait before your vehicle departs, as the container must have a full load before shipping to Bahrain.

Full Container Load – You have the added benefit of a fully enclosed container, just like our shared container service, but the 20 ft container is dedicated solely to your vehicle. Since there’s no wait for other cars to be loaded, you’ll enjoy a shorter wait before departure. However, additional terminal handling fees and other charges won’t be shared with other vehicle owners.

Our most selective customers prefer the high level of safety and expediency offered when shipping cars with exclusive container shipping. When your vehicle is received, we’ll photograph and document the vehicle’s condition as well as the loading process. Your vehicle will be loaded using our modern steel loading system, which is not only environmentally friendly, but doesn’t rely on outdated wood ramps and nails that other shipping companies use, which can damage your vehicle.

After your car is loaded onto your own private container, it is locked and secured. This will ensure no one gains access to your car before reaching its final destination. Since the vehicle is fully enclosed in a secure container, we invite our clients to pack and transport other personal belongings inside the vehicle. However, everything must be loaded securely, as we won’t be responsible for loss or damage of any kind.

Once your vehicle reaches its destination port in Bahrain, our agent will unlock the container, document the vehicle’s condition, and photograph the entire unloading process. Every step of the shipping process is not only handled carefully but documented for your peace of mind.

Compared to our roll-on/roll-off shipping option, enclosed container shipping is not only more secure when shipping to Bahrain, but much faster due to frequent departures each week.

Sourcing vehicles – Overseas clients who wish to buy a vehicle can turn to our long list of car buyers developed in our nearly thirty years in the auto industry, who can find and purchase vehicles for an additional fee or commission.

Other services – Some of the auto transport services we offer in overseas territories include domestic pickup, vehicle import assistance, tracking of your shipment, customs clearance in the USA and a full vehicle inspection report.

Departure Ports – United States

The location your vehicle will depart from depends on the method of car shipping to Bahrain, where your vehicle is located, your budget, and which services the nearest port offers. We have multiple departure locations from which we can ship cars from the USA, including Los Angeles, New York, Houston, Miami, Savannah, and more.

Destination Ports – Bahrain

Here are the entry ports in Bahrain that we can ship a car to.

Before shipping to Bahrain, the undercarriage of your car must be cleaned and free of foreign soil to prevent the introduction of invasive plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms. This can be accomplished through steam cleaning or other thorough cleaning methods.

CFR Classic can assist with finding an appropriate cleaner to help ensure you comply with this requirement before car shipping to Bahrain. We do not recommend washing the interior of the vehicle as it can cause mold during transport. Vacuuming the interior is usually more than sufficient prior to car transport.

All cars shipped to Bahrain from the US must be registered. Once your car has been cleared through the customs procedures and you have paid all of the relevant import duties and taxes, you will receive a Customs Clearance Certificate from Bahraini Customs. Your vehicle must then undergo a technical inspection at an authorized inspection center to ensure that it complies with all of the relevant Bahraini safety and environmental regulations. On passing this inspection, you will receive a valid inspection certificate.

Once you have this inspection certificate, you must register your vehicle at the General Directorate of Traffic Services under the Ministry of Interior. Before registering your vehicle, you must ensure that you have a suitable Bahraini insurance policy in place that meets all local requirements.

To register your car with the Bahraini authorities, you will need to gather together all of the necessary documentation, including:

• Completed Vehicle Registration Form (this must be signed by the car owner)
• Valid Identity Card
• Vehicle Technical Inspection Pass Certificate
• Customs Declaration/Clearance Statement
• Proof of Payment of Bahraini Taxes and Duties
• Proof of Valid Bahraini Insurance
• Bill of Lading
• Address Certificate

In order to register your vehicle in Bahrain, you will need to pay the necessary registration fee. The exact fee depends on factors such as the type and size of the vehicle, as well as any additional services required during the registration process. It can range from 29.5 BHD to 1,096 BHD (approximately 78 USD to 2,900 USD).

After presenting this information and paying the relevant taxes, duties, and registration fee, you’ll be issued with a valid registration certificate and Bahraini license plates.

More information about the registration process can be found here on the Bahraini government’s vehicle registration page: https://www.bahrain.bh/wps/portal/en/BNP/ServicesCatalogue/GSX-UI-PServiceDetails?psID=1966

International Car Shipping
Classic Car Shipping
Motorcycle Shipping
Boat Shipping
Air Freight
Cargo Shipping
Moving Household Goods

This information was updated in January 2025. All information, time frames, pricing, and regulations are subject to change. Please contact a sales representative for the most current rates and information.

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